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Rev. Roger D. Haight, SJ, PhD


A natural tendency to feel compassion for human beings who are suffering unites all people, whether or not it is actually elicited or acted upon. This common impulse transcends the religions because it is rooted in a shared humanity. From a Christian perspective, it reflects the will of the creator of a single species, marked by solidarity, all loved by the same God, and invited to be grateful and to show gratitude in practice.”
-Roger Haight, Spiritual and Religious: Explorations for Seekers (Orbis Books, 2016), p. 183

Rev. Roger D. Haight, SJ, PhD, is a pioneering theologian whose cutting-edge thinking and prolific writing through at least 18 books takes on the hard theological questions of 20th and 21st centuries, such as liberation theology, spirituality, the dialog between science and Christianity, as well as groundbreaking work in Christology—the person and work of Jesus; ecclesiology—the all-encompassing study of the Church; and grace. That led to his current role as Union Theological Seminary’s Scholar in Residence; Alumnus of 2005 Award from the University of Chicago; and his 1994-95 presidency of the Catholic Theological Society of America.

His books include:

Rev. Haight has an international perspective. He was educated during his formative undergraduate years in the Philippines and has taught in South America, India, Africa, Canada and Europe, as well as in the United States.

Prior to his Notification from the Congregation of Divine Faith of the Vatican, his teaching career spans Jesuit seminaries that have evolved into exciting and influential places of fruitful intellectual ferment—Loyola in the Philippines; the Jesuit College of Theology in Chicago; Weston in Cambridge; and Regis in Toronto.  It was nourished with academic degrees: bachelor’s and master’s degrees in philosophy from Berchmans College; STB, Bachelor in Sacred Theology from Woodstock College; master’s and doctorate degrees in theology from the University of Chicago; STL, Licentiate in Sacred Theology from Jesuit School of Theology in Chicago.